LAS VEGAS -- NASCAR announced sweeping changes to the Hall of Fame election process Thursday, including tweaks that make Bill Elliott and Mark Martin immediately eligible for enshrinement. Among the six changes: Drivers are now eligible if they have competed for 30 or more years in NASCAR or turned 55 in the calendar year before nominating day. Previously, drivers were not eligible until they had been retired for three years, so drivers can continue to compete and still reach the hall. Martin, winner of 96 races across NASCARs three national divisions, has no plans at this time to race next year after 31 seasons in the Sprint Cup Series. Elliott, winner of the 1988 Cup title, is 58 but raced as recently as 2012. Two-time NASCAR champion Terry Labonte ran in five races in 2013, but is 57 and has competed in Cup for 36 years. Other drivers immediately eligible for Hall of Fame consideration include four-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr., who still competes at age 55, and Ken Schrader, who said last months season finale at Homestead was his final race after 30 seasons. The ballot will also include only 20 nominees, down five from the first five classes. Also, any member of the nominating committee or voting panel who appeared on the previous years ballot or current years ballot will now be recused from participation in the nominating or voting process while they are on the ballot. Ned Jarrett, Bud Moore, Junior Johnson are active Hall of Fame voters and were on the panel when they were elected. Jerry Cook is a present voter and has consistently been on the Hall of Fame ballot. Those were the only direct changes to enshrinement as NASCAR passed on forming a veterans committee or if fewer than five should be inducted each year. "We have decided that that time has not yet arrived, but we will give strong consideration to revisiting both of those propositions after the 10th class is seated," said chief communications officer Brett Jewkes. "This year well be seating the fifth class. Long story short, those are viable things. There was a lot of debate, a lot of discussion, but weve made the decision that we wont revisit those until the 10th class is seated." NASCAR has also established the "Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions" that will begin with the 2015 class. Potential recipients could include competitors or those working in the sport as a member of a racing organization, track facility, race team, sponsor, media partner or being a general ambassador. Landmark Award winners will remain eligible for Hall of Fame induction. Five nominees for the Landmark Award will be selected by the halls nominating committee. The winner must appear on at least 60 per cent of the ballots. Beginning next year, the nominating committee will meet in person to create its ballots for both the Hall of Fame and the Landmark Award. The committee previously submitted nominees via mail to an independent accounting firm. The nominating committee will meet Feb. 21 in Daytona. NASCAR previously announced that the reigning Sprint Cup champion will be an eligible Hall of Fame voter starting with the 2015 class. Six-time champion Jimmie Johnson will be the first active driver to cast a ballot in voting next year. All of the changes were made after NASCAR examined the election process via discussions with current panelists. "A couple things we learned through this process is that our process right now is incredibly strong and comparable to other sports halls of fame," Jewkes said. "We feel very strongly about the strength of our process, and thats been borne out in the fact that we have five classes that we think are an exceptional reflection of the history of the sport. What came out of this process, it really magnified the caution we should take in comparing ourselves to other sports halls of fame. "Bottom line is our sport is very unique, the industry is very unique, the structure of our ownership and competition and the feeder series and everything in our sport is very, very unique, and therefore our process will always be a little bit unique." Barry Ashbee Jersey .7 million, one-year contract.The deal, announced Friday, includes a $50,000 performance bonus if the left-hander appears in 60 games. Ivan Provorov Jersey . After making his All-Star debut in Fridays Rising Stars Challenge, the Raptors sophomore centre wont be sticking around for the duration of the weekends festivities, thinking about the big picture instead. http://www.cheapflyersjerseys.com/?tag=adidas-brian-propp-jersey . - Dominika Cibulkova erased three match points in the second set Wednesday and beat Agnieszka Radwanska 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the Sony Open. Taylor Leier Jersey . Assistant coach Glen Gulutzan said Thursday that Edler, who played Tuesday in Nashville, is out indefinitely. Bill Barber Jersey .C. Now hes squarely in the U.S. capital and helping the Washington Wizards playoff drive. John Wall scored 33 points, Gooden got 11 of his 21 in the final quarter and the Wizards overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 101-94 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night.CLEVELAND -- Indians manager Terry Francona gave his team a pep talk Saturday after they lost for the seventh time in nine games. Cleveland responded Sunday, rewarding Francona with a 6-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. David Murphy hit a three-run double in the sixth inning and John Axford worked out of bases-loaded jam in the ninth as the Indians avoided a series sweep and broke a three-game losing streak. The Indians won 92 games and made the playoffs as wild-card team last season by getting contributions from as many areas as possible. That formula, which had been missing for much of the early season, was a key element against the Blue Jays. "Thats probably the best way we are as a team," Francona said. "Thats the way were built, get it across the board." Francona didnt want his players dwelling on their 7-10 start going into Sunday. "Nobody likes coming to the ballpark and look at your record when its not what you want it to be," he said. "Thats plain and simple. Saying that, I dont want them dragging in here, because its a new day. During a baseball season theres a lot of grinding that needs to be done. Sometimes the games easier than it is (at other times). Thats simple fact. So when its not going perfect, you grind the best you can." "Hopefully, this is exactly what we need to get on a roll," Murphy said. "We havent been playing terrible, but we havent been playing characteristic of ourselves." Cleveland entered the sixth trailing 4-2, but reliever Aaron Loup (1-1) walked the bases loaded before Murphy delivered a line drive past third base that kicked off the stands and caromed into shallow left field, allowing all three runners to score. Axford, the fourth Cleveland reliever, loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth before retiring Edwin Encarnacion on a groundout. Josh Outman (3-0) recorded the final out of the sixth and Clevelands bullpen pitched 3 1-3 innings of scoreless relief. Michael Brantley hit a solo homer in the second and added an RBI double in the fourth. Toronto scored threee times on four hits in the fourth.dddddddddddd Jose Bautista and Juan Francisco had RBI singles while Brett Lawrire added a run-scoring groundout. Brandon Morrow allowed three runs and was pulled after Nick Swishers leadoff single in the sixth. Loup got Jason Kipnis on a fielders choice. After Kipnis was caught stealing, Loup walked Carlos Santana, Brantley and Asdrubal Cabrera to fill the bases. Murphys liner past third bounced off the stands a few feet beyond the tarp and rolled into shallow left. By the time Melky Cabrera tracked it down, the runners had raced home and Cleveland had the lead. "Thats about as tough a lefty that Im going to face," Murphy said. "Fortunately, he gave me a good pitch to hit." "Walks hurt you," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "These guys laid off it pretty good. And of course Murphy ends up getting the big hit there. We made a run at it late, it just didnt happen." Carlos Carrasco retired the first nine hitters, but Jose Reyes led off the fourth with a double. Melky Cabreras single sent Reyes to third before Bautistas single to right tied it. Franciscos single scored Cabrera and Lawries groundout made it 3-1. Reyes added an RBI single in the fifth. Carrasco hasnt recorded a victory in his last 16 starts. The right-handers last win as a starter came on June 29, 2011, against Arizona. His last victory came in a relief appearance on Aug. 20, 2011, against the Los Angeles Angels. Carrasco, who missed the 2012 season because of elbow surgery, is 0-11 with an 8.28 ERA since his last win as a starter. NOTES: Bautista has reached safely in all 19 games. ... The Blue Jays are off Monday and begin a three-game series at home Tuesday against Baltimore. .... The Indians are expected to activate DH Jason Giambi (broken rib) from the 15-day DL Monday. He was hit by a pitch in a spring training game. ... Cleveland opens a four-game series against Kansas City at Progressive Field on Monday. RHP Zach McAllister (2-2) faces RHP Jeremy Guthrie (2-0). ' ' '